Recommendations for Orchestration Books

Hi there,

I have been working through qcCowboy's orchestration master classes and I would like to thank him for his time on those because they are very helpful. The guide notes that it should not be treated as a replacement for a good orchestration book so I was wondering what your recommendations are for a good book or books for learning techniques on orchestration. Perhaps you could recommend good reference books for instrumentation but also tutorial style books for orchestration.

I think i'm reasonably comfortable with technical language (although perhaps you could note if the book you are recommending is particularly technical/advanced or too 'easy' if that makes sense).

Thanks so much in advance and great to join this forum!

A somewhat obsolete but still useful book is Berlioz's Treatise on Instrumentation, which is free on International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) Portal.

Thanks very much. Very useful.

The Adler book is quite amazing.

There are multiple threads about this.

That said, I recommend the Blatter book and the Adler book.

I've been reading Rimsky-Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration and it has proved to be extremely useful although it, too, is dated.

It's not orchestration-related, but it's a nice read:

"Searching for Dummies: How to use the search function in websites where there might be multiple previous threads about the topic I'm asking for"

:whistling:

EDIT: oh my, I found this after googling: http://www.amazon.com/World-Wide-Web-Searching-Dummies/dp/0764502646

Thanks to jujimufu but I know how to use the search function but was asking a little more specifically for me. So I take it your the arrogant smart arse around here then?

But thanks to the genuine suggestions. Really appreciated.

Thanks,

Oh, poor you.

Thing is, all the books people recommended here have been recommended before to other people asking for orchestration books. So what exactly is it about them that make them "genuine" and "personal" reccomendations?

Thanks for the advice Bolanos. I think i'll loan all these books from the library where possible and then purchase the ones I favour. I think it's also a case of continuing research online as well. But thanks so much guys, will definitely look further.

Oh and jujimufu, i'm sorry for posting a thread that is similar to others and, ok, I can't blame you for thinking this thread isn't unique so I apologise - I'll make sure I do a through search next time. I just think your response was unnecessarily patronising and a little rude. But hey i've been on enough forums to know that new guys who come across as being ignorant to forum rules are annoying, so, sorry.

EDIT: Also: although, as I said, I would look into the books mentioned are there well thought of recent books that aren't outdated as well?

Though it's more a text on instrumentation than orchestration, Walter Piston's 'Orchestration' is a useful resource - goes into some detail about the technical limitations and specific techniques of each orchestral instrument.

And welcome to YC :)

Honestly, I would not bother with the Korsakov, Piston, or even Kennan and go straight to Samuel Adler. Adler's textbook w/workbook and CDs is fairly standard.

Ok then well thanks for the advice.

Thanks to jujimufu but I know how to use the search function but was asking a little more specifically for me. So I take it your the arrogant smart arse around here then?

Yes. He surely is. :whistling:

As much as Adler's book is reviered around the world these days, it's not perfect. The sections on trombone, organ, and percussion in general have a lot to be desired. While good for showing the individual instruments' limitations, ranges, colors, etc., it does not fair well in the actual "orchestration" section. It is very general and a lot of what he says is quite limiting if you were to follow all of his rules. So while Adler is good for some things, don't use it for everything.

My recomendations for books for orchestration?

1) Complete Beethoven Symphonies

2) Complete Tchaikovsky Symphonies

3) Some Wagner operas

4) Complete Mahler Symphonies

5) The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky

6) The Planets, Holst

7) Any other major works that grab your fancy (except Brahms or Chopin, because they were a terrible orchestrators)

Hi Justin

Thanks for your advice. I've been looking around the IMSLP so i'll start paying particular attention to the orchestration. Thanks.

you can find rimsky-korsakovs principles of orchestration online for free. just google it.

As much as Adler's book is reviered around the world these days, it's not perfect. The sections on trombone, organ, and percussion in general have a lot to be desired. While good for showing the individual instruments' limitations, ranges, colors, etc., it does not fair well in the actual "orchestration" section. It is very general and a lot of what he says is quite limiting if you were to follow all of his rules. So while Adler is good for some things, don't use it for everything.

My recomendations for books for orchestration?

1) Complete Beethoven Symphonies

2) Complete Tchaikovsky Symphonies

3) Some Wagner operas

4) Complete Mahler Symphonies

5) The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky

6) The Planets, Holst

7) Any other major works that grab your fancy (except Brahms or Chopin, because they were a terrible orchestrators)

The Beethoven and Tchaikovsky symphonies are AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL recommendations for studies in orchestration.

AWFUL.

Both are notorious for their piss poor handling of the orchestra.

Please do not heed Justin's post.

The Beethoven and Tchaikovsky symphonies are AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL recommendations for studies in orchestration.

AWFUL.

Both are notorious for their piss poor handling of the orchestra.

Please do not heed Justin's post.

:blink:

You have GOT to be joking right?

Ok then. So you some of you are divided then eh?

NEWS FLASH!

ThePianoSonata is a better orchestrator than Beethoven!

lulz. :laugh:

NEWS FLASH!

ThePianoSonata is a better orchestrator than Beethoven!

lulz. :laugh:

It's posts like these that confirm my belief that you do not go to Mannes, because any music student versed in orchestration should be better than Beethoven. Otherwise, they're clueless.

It's posts like these that confirm my belief that you do not go to Mannes, because any music student versed in orchestration should be better than Beethoven. Otherwise, they're clueless.

It's called a difference of opinion. You may not hold Beethoven and Tchaikovsky's orchestration in high esteem, but it was respectively the height of orchestration of their day. It's no question that Mahler or Ravel are more complex orchestrators than Beethoven, but that doesn't mean "better." It's a completely subjective term.

I posted this in another section of the site, but here's a partial list of new orchestration books you might want to check out. You can find these at TrueSpec Systems - from Alexander University, Inc. - Music scores, Music Books, Keyboards and Audio.

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/orchestration-books-18645.html#post280472

Professional Orchestration Volume 1 - Solo Instruments & Instrumentation Notes

Professional Orchestration Volume 2A - Orchestrating the Melody Within the String Section

Professional Orchestration Volume 2B - Orchestrating the Melody Within the Woodwind and Brass Sections (shipping Spring 2009)

Professional Orchestration Sketchbooks

Professional Orchestration Online Classes

Instant Composer: Counterpoint by Fux Online Classes

Street Smart Guides to Logic 8

Street Smart Guides to the Bach Chorales

Composition Titles by Percy Goetschius

Definitely Principles of Orchestration by Rimsky-Korsakov

Frickin genius